Sens, Habs and Leafs Headed in Different Directions

 No matter how well your team is going, as an NHL general manager, worry and anxiety are common bedfellows. Teams can be one major injury or a couple of poor goaltending outings away from singing sayonara to the post-season. Here in Eastern Ontario – and readers of this space will

NHL’s Atlantic Rich with Talent and Troubles

 It’s a relatively quiet time in the National Hockey League. Late August. Camps still a few weeks away. Outside of a Laine trade here, a Blues-Oilers offer sheet tussle there, not a whole heck of a lot rocking on. Hence, the dawning of the month-of-the-lists. TSN’s been at it. So

Ottawa Senators: Rebuild Part II?

 “I think the Senators are going to be a really, really busy team in the off-season.” Hockey’s pre-eminent insider Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet, HNIC) had those words earlier this week and they are all of being the following: Predictable, believable, somewhat alluring to Ottawa fans and somewhat frightening to Ottawa fans.

Dorion’s firing . . . and spinning the wheel on Senators, Habs and Leafs

 Collectively they should be recognized as the Holy Trinity of hockey around these parts. Three entities that swallow the large majority of fan support in the Eastern Ontario region. So in no particular order, here we have Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa, and if you’re a hockey follower in the region,

Fresh Fish in The NHL’s Atlantic

 Last season the gun was jumped by this corner in regard to the ever-evolving Atlantic Division. Sure, the thing was evolving but not evolving as rapidly as we’d thought and forecasted. The young ones on the block – the Ottawa’s, Buffalo’s, and Detroit’s were on the move, but only incrementally.

Hockey’s back, Part II! (Well, almost)

 Last week Ottawa had its fill, this week we move on to its chief rival(s) in Montreal and Toronto. In case you missed it, what we’re attempting to do here is toss together a number of questions-and-answers-and-observations regarding said teams, as National Hockey League training camps and the regular season

NHL’s Eastern Conference: change is in the air

 It’s been the ignition switch triggering many a discussion since the salary cap came into play 17 years ago – the days of dynasties in the National Hockey League are done. The Montreal Canadiens of the 1970s, NY Islanders and Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s dominated hockey at its grandest

Keep your eyes on these guys.

 Being a ‘person of interest’ isn’t likely a good thing when relating it to the police. Being the same in this column could be good . . .  or it could be bad. Let’s put it this way, and either way, the 10 guys (close to home) listed and detailed

Senators not alone on the Isle of Stink

 I always kind of wondered what it would be like to live full-time in Phoenix. You know, the warm days throughout the year, world-class golf courses, thin, clean air, superb dining, the constant hum of air conditioners and a perpetually bad hockey team. Well now I know. We’ve got all

Rivalry week did not disappoint

 Here’s how last week shaped-out for the Ottawa Senators: Monday – 6-5 win vs Toronto Wednesday – 2-1 loss vs Toronto Thursday – 7-3 loss vs Toronto Sunday – 3-2 win vs Montreal That’s a two-win week for the Sens – a continuation of their trend in the right direction.

The Sens get a bounce, and “Hoggy” bounces back

 After beating the Montreal Canadiens and snapping a nine-game winless streak two weeks ago, the Ottawa Senators lost their next four games, and almost lost every game last week. Almost. Enter Brady Tkachuk. The Senators began the week with two losses to the Edmonton Oilers, followed by a loss to

After a tough week, Ottawa Senators need to give young players a chance

 Last week was a tough one for the Ottawa Senators, losing all three games versus Winnipeg. They led 3-2 until the last minutes of the game on Tuesday, before allowing an equalizer with 1:17 left, and then losing in overtime. The Senators outshot the Jets 41-28, they deserved to win.

Canadian teams look to post-season and draft

 Above: Morgon Reilley will return to the Leafs lineup (Courtesy NHLI via Getty Images) It’s lonely at the bottom. The Ottawa Senators – as discussed at great length in this space last week – won’t be taking part in the 24-team slap-and-tickle know as the NHL playoffs later this summer.

Why you should bet on the Montreal Canadiens futures

 Every NHL season, there are teams that we rule out as non-contenders that manage to find a way to hang in the race. Indeed, the season is winding down and the Montreal Canadiens are steps behind the other clubs competing in the east. However, with a handful of wins, the

Canadian clubs: the good and the bad and the in-between

 We’re right around the halfway point in this NHL season and as we are prone to do a couple of times per season, let’s have a glance at how our seven Canadian teams are faring, and what might lie ahead in the upcoming months. Across Canada? It’s truly a mixed

Canadian Clubs Lead the Way with Calgary Surprise

 Photo courtesy of NHLI via Getty Images How ya doin’ out there Canada? Well, we’re about to hit elongated home stretch and the run to the NHL trade deadline (3 pm ET, Feb. 25) so let’s take a gander at who’s done what so far and what is likely to

Senators up-and-down season so far is not a bad thing

 Photo credit: NHLI via Getty Images National Hockey League brain-boxes like to measure the success rate of their hockey club in 10-game segments. So, here we sit roughly 10 games into the season with lots to mull over. Here’s a glance at how Canada’s seven teams are faring so far .

From Hockey Player to Chiropractor

 For a short time in chiropractor Karlo Pavich's life, playing hockey was all he ever wanted to do. During his youth, Pavich lived that dream. From the age of 16 until the age of 23, Pavich skated his way into the professional hockey circuit. In his early years, Pavich played

Senators Get a New GM

  A faceoff during the first playoff game between the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2006 Stanley Cup. After seven years as general manager, Bryan Murray (73) has announced he is stepping down from his role with the Ottawa Senators. At a press conference on Sunday, Murray says he will

Ottawa Life Guide to the Sens

 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons. Whether you are new to town or have just decided that this year you are going to join the slew of hockey fans inhabiting Ottawa’s pubs, bars or other fine drinking establishments, there are a few things you should know about the capital’s NHL team. The modern

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Jean Béliveau

 Jean Béliveau, Athlete, Ice Hockey Jean Béliveau is one of the most genuine hockey heroes in Canadian history. Béliveau led by example both on and off the ice, separating him from other professional players, A fast skater, master stickhandler and outstanding playmaker, Béliveau could have easily let success get to